Molded electric plug with flexible holding magnet

ABSTRACT

AN ELECTRIC PLUG IS MOLDED WITH CONNECTED BLADES AND CORD, AND WITH A RECTANGULAR FLEXIBLE MAGNET IN ONE OF TWO OPPOSITE GRASPONG SURFACES OF THE PLUG SO THAT THE PLUG CAN BE MAGNETICALLY HELD ON A SURFACE OF MAGNETIC MATERIAL. THE PLUG MAY BE MOLDED WITH THE BLADES AND CORD AND WITH A RECTANGULAR RECESS IN THE GASPING SUR-   FACE. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE FLEXIBLE MAGNET IS INSERTED INTO THE RECESS AND HELD BY FRICTION.

J. M. GERBER 3,553,627

Jan. 5, 1971 MOLDED ELECTRIC PLUG WITH FLEXIBLE HOLDING MAGNET 2Sheets-Sheet -1 Filed July 9, 1968 INVENTOR. JOHN M. GERBER My A ORZZJan 5, 1971 L J. M. GERBER 3,553,627

MOLDED ELECTRIC PLUG WITH FLEXIBLE HOLDING MAGNET Filed July 8. 1968 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JOHN M. GERBER A TORN United States Patent US.Cl. 339-12 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An electric plug ismolded with connected blades and cord, and with a rectangular flexiblemagnet in one of two opposite grasping surfaces of the plug so that theplug can be magnetically held on a surface of magnetic material. Theplug may be molded with the blades and cord and With a rectangularrecess in the grasping surface. Subsequently, the flexible magnet isinserted into the recess and held by friction.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION My invention relates to a molded electricplug with a holding magnet, and particularly to an improved moldedelectric plug having a flexible permanent magnet that is molded with theplug or that is insertedand held by friction in a recess in the plug.

Electric plugs have previously been provided with permanent magnets tohold the plug on a surface of magnetic material so that the plug andcord are out of the way or provide a neat appearance. Two such previousplugs are shown in US. Pat. No. 2,709,245 granted to W. J. Schneider onMay 24, 1955; and in US. Pat. No. 2,721,717 granted to H. Wales on Oct.25, 1955. While such previous plugs are satisfactory in many instances,the plugs also have some disadvantages. Where the permanent magnet is ofconventional material, the magnet either must have a special shape sothat it will be held in the plug, or must be molded with some plugmaterial over the magnet to hold it in the plug. The special shape maymake the magnet more expensive or less effective, and the magnet withplug material over it makes the magnet less effective. A magnet ofconventional material requires precautions in order that the magnetic material does not short-circuit the plug blade or cord. Some moldedmagnets and plugs have an unsymmetrical configuration that is hard tograsp.

Accordingly, an object of my invention is to provide a new and improvedelectric plug which is molded with plug blades, a cord, and a permanentmagnet at an outer surface of the plug.

Another object of my invention is to provide a new and improved moldedelectric plug with plug blades and cord, and with a permanent magnetthat can be inserted later and held in a recess in the plug by friction.

Another object of my invention is to provide a new and improved moldedelectric plug having a permanent magnet that is positioned at the plugsurface for good effectiveness, that does not interfere with the use ofthe plug, and that makes the plug relatively easy to grasp for insertionand withdrawal.

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Another object of my invention is to provide a new and improved moldedelectric plug having a permanent magnet that is relatively flexible sothat the magnet can be molded with a plug or can be easily inserted in afinished plug, so that the magnet has effective holding force, and sothat the plug can be easily and firmly grasped.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly, these and other objects are achievedin accordance with my invention by an electric plug that is molded ofsuitable rubber or plastic with connected blades and cord. The electricplug has two opposite and preferably diverging grasping surfaces. Aflexible permanent magnet having a rectangular shape is preferablymolded with the plug at one of the grasping surfaces. The magnet isfrictionally held in the formed rectangular recess. The magnet is shapedand positioned to provide a broad surface of the magnet at the onegrasping surface so that the magnet provides elfective holding and sothat the plug can be easily and firmly grasped.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The subject matter which I regard as myinvention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in theclaims. The structure and operation of my invention, together withfurther objects and advantages, may be better understood from thefollowing description given in connection with the accompanying drawing,in which:

FIG. 1 shows a view of an electric toaster having a molded electric plugin accordance with my invention provided on the toaster cord to hold thecord in a neat and out-of-the-way fashion;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a molded electric plug and apermanent magnet in accordance with my invent-ion, the magnet beingwithdrawn from its recess in the plug;

FIG. 3 shows a plan view of my plug of FIG. 2 with the magnet insertedin the plug recess; and

FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of my plug and magnet of FIG. 3,FIG. 4 being taken along the line 44 in FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In FIG. 1, I have shown, as anexample, an electric toaster having a plug 10 constructed in accordancewith my invention and a cord 12 connected to the plug 10 and thetoaster. When the toaster is not used or is to be stored, it issometimes desirable to keep the cord 12 and its plug 10 out of the way.This can be done by wrapping the cord 12 around the upper metallicportion 8 of the toaster, and then holding the plug 10 on this metallicportion 8 by magnetic attraction to the magnetic material in the portion8. Thus, the cord 12 and the plug 10 are kept out of the way and thetoaster has a neat and compact appearance.

With respect to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, I have shown the details of theconstruction of the electric plug 10 in accordance with my invention.The electric plug 10 may be molded of a suitable electrically insulatingmaterial such as rubber, synthetic rubber, or plastic. Before the plug10 is molded, blades 14 are connected to the conductors of the cord 12by any suitable means such as crimping or welding. The blades 14 andpart of the cord 12 and a flexible permanent magnet 30 are positioned inthe plug mold, and the plug is then integrally molded with the blades14, the cord 12, and the permanent magnet 30. Since the exact detailsand configuration of the blades 14 and the cord 12 are not a part of myinvention, I have not shown their exact construction, connection, orconfiguration. The outer configuration of my molded plug 10 comprises afront from which the blades 14 extend and a rear from which the cord 12extends. The plug 10 has sides which may be ridged near the front 15 andwhich may be flat and parallel near the rear 20, as shown. Two oppositegrasping surfaces 16, 18 extend from near the front 15 of the plug 10 indiverging directions, and terminate at the rear 20. When molded, thegrasping surface 16 is formed with a generally rectangularly shapedrecess 22 having a bottom surface that lies in a plane substantiallyparallel to the grasping surface 16. The front end of the recess 22 hasa rounded front wall 24 which extends upwardly above the graspingsurface 16, and a rectangular rear wall 26 which also extends upwardlyabove the grasping surface 16. The other grasping surface 18 may beridged so that it can be more firmly grasped.

The rectangularly shaped permanent magnet 30 is preferably shaped andpositioned so that it has a thickness greater than the distance from thebottom of the recess 22 to the top of the front and rear walls 24, 26.The permanent magnet 30 is preferably of the flexible type composed ofany suitable combination of plastic and magnetic materials such astaught and described in US. Pat. No. 3,124,725 granted to C. W.Leguillon on Mar. 10, 1964. Since such materials do not, by themselves,form a part of my invention, their composition and manufacture are notdescribed in detail.

If the permanent magnet 30 is molded with the plug 10, the recess 22 isformed during the molding. The porosity of the flexible magnet materialis greater than the porosity of conventional iron or steel magnets sothat there is some bonding between the flexible magnet 30 and the plug10. However, if the plug 10 is molded to provide the recess 22 (withoutthe permanent magnet 30), the magnet 30 may be inserted into the formedrecess 22. This is done by placing the rear end of the magnet 30 againstthe rear wall 26, bringing the front end of the magnet 30 down and overthe rounded top of the front end or wall 24, and snapping the permanentmagnet 30 into its recess 22. A small amount of adhesive material may beused. After being molded with the plug 10 or inserted in the recess 22in the plug 10, the permanent magnet 30 has the position shown in FIGS.3 and 4. I have found that the rubber or plastic material used for theplug 10 and the material used for the flexible permanent magnet 30 havea relatively high coefficient of friction so that the magnet 30 issecurely held in the recess 22. I prefer that the length of thepermanent magnet 30 be slightly longer than the distance between thefacing surfaces of the front and rear walls 24, 26. This slight oversizeholds the permanent magnet 30 more firmly in its recess 22. Once thepermanent magnet 30 is positioned in its recess 22, its outer surfaceand the grasping surface 18 form convenient and diverging surfaces whichcan be firmly grasped. The permanent magnet 30 is firmly held in therecess 22, and its upper surface projects sufliciently beyond the plug10 so that it can effectively contact and hold the plug 10 to a surfaceof magnetic material.

It will thus be seen that my invention provides a new and improvedelectric plug which can be molded with its blades and cord, and whichcan then be provided with a. permanent magnet. The permanent magnet canbe molded with the plug or can be easily inserted in the appropriatelyshaped recess, and is firmly held in the recess. The permanent magnethas an outer surface that effectively engages a surface of magneticmaterial so that the plug is firmly held by the magnetic attraction.There is no plug material over or outside of the permanent magnet, sothat the magnets effectiveness is not reduced. Also, the permanentmagnet provides a surface that can be firmly grasped and held by aperson. While I have shown only one embodiment of my invention, personsskilled in the art will appreciate that modifications may be made. Forexample, the plug and magnet can be used with various cords andappliances. The front and rear walls 24, 26 are not absolutelyessential, although they do assist in holding the permanent magnet inposition. The magnet 30 may extend a greater or a less distance abovethe grasping surface. Also, it is not essential that 15 the graspingsurfaces 16, 18 diverge. If the surfaces do diverge, the angle ofdivergence can be made to provide a canvenient and comfortable feel forgrasping the plug. Therefore, while my invention has been described withreference to a particular embodiment, it is to be understood thatmodifications may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention or from the scope of the claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

1. An improved molded electric plug comprising:

(a) an integral plug of molded electrically insulating material;

(b) said plug having a front, a rear, and at least two opposite graspingsurfaces that extend from a location near said front to said rear;

(c) said plug having at least two blades extending from said front and acord connected thereto and extending from said rear, said blades andsaid cord being at least partially contained within said plug;

(d) one of said grasping surfaces having a recess therein of a selectedsize and configuration;

(e) and a flexible permanent magnet comprising a combination of plasticand magnetic materials posi tioned in said recess, said magnet havingsubstantially the same size and configuration of said recess so that theouter surface of said permanent magnet is at least as high as said onegrasping surface.

2. The improved plug of claim 1 wherein said opposite grasping surfacesdiverge from said front to said rear.

3. An improved molded electric plug comprising:

(a) an integral plug of molded electrically insulating material;

(b) said plug having a front, a rear, and at least two opposite graspingsurfaces that extend from a location near said front to said rear;

(c) said plug having at least two blades extending from said front and acord connected thereto and extending from said rear, said blades andsaid cord being at least partially contained within said plug;

((1) one of said grasping surfaces having a rectangularly shaped recesstherein of a selected length between said front and rear, a selectedwidth transverse to said length, and a selected depth transverse to saidlength and extending inward from said one surface;

(e) and a flexible rectangularly-shaped permanent magnet comprising acombination of plastic and magnetic materials positioned andfrictionally held in said recess, said magnet having substantially saidrecess length and width and a depth that is greater than said recessdepth so that the outer surface of said permanent magnet formed by saidlength and width is outward of said one grasping surface.

4. The improved plug of claim 3 wherein said opposite grasping surfacesdiverge from said front to said rear.

5. The improved plug of claim 3 wherein said one grasping surface has awall at the front and rear ends of said recess, each of said wallsextending outwardly beyond said one grasping surface to engage therespective 75 ends of said permanent magnet.

6. The improved plug of claim 5 wherein said opposite grasping surfacesdiverge from said front to said rear.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6 2,721,717 10/1955 Wales 339-12X3,093,434 6/1963 Francis 339-195 3,321,730 5/1967 Schlangen 33912 MARVINA. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner P. A. CLIFFORD, Assistant Examiner US. Cl.X.R. 339--45

